God's mysterious Will

Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to gather all of our ancestors in a huge meeting room just to get to know them, interview them, and learn of their lives? If we could do this, who would we find in our family tree? I'm sure there would be people of status. There might be people of valor. It's possible one might find a few surprises. Could it be possible a few 'stinkers' are limbs of our heralded family tree? Probably. I was reading the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter one and happened to see a name or two that made me pause.

"Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was

Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. (Matthew 1:4-6, NIV)

Rahab. Wasn't she considered a woman of ill repute? (So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. [Joshua 2:1, NIV]) What's up with that? One of Jesus' ancestors was actively engaged in the oldest profession? Yes, it's true. Or take the connection between Boaz, Obed, and Ruth. Through a host of tragic events (famine, three family members dying, and widows traveling back home) God's mysterious will unfolded in glorious ways. Beautiful things were occurring daily and many of these events were born out of pain, suffering, and tragedy. Seems a bit of a paradox.

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive,

and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left

you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and

sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven

sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. The women

living there said, “Naomi has a son.” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of

David. This, then, is the family line of Perez:" (Ruth 4:13-18, NIV)

While this text is focused upon Boaz, Ruth, Jesse, Naomi, and her newborn son by way of Ruth. Don't lose the magnitude of the main focus of this scripture. It demonstrated God's magnificent ability to turn ashes into beauty. In fact, a little later in this line of generations will be born the Savior of the world who is Jesus.

Are you struggling with one cataclysmic event after another? Are you finding it impossible to believe God could be using these events to do something amazing in your life? It's okay to feel doubt and maybe even some frustration or anger. Emotions are gifts of a creative God who knew we would need them to express ourselves. Happiness that is expressed at a wedding or birth of a child is good. Tears and sorrow that flow from a deeply hurting heart help bring healing. Joy is one emotion that could supercede all the others because it is the one place we can dwell even when all 'hell' is breaking loose around us.

I'm sure down through the annals of time, people have held closely to the Lord God in hopes of a better day and God did not disappoint. I encourage you to hang onto hope and express joy in knowing God is walking with you and creating a story that will bless you and your family and add to the mysterious will of God.